President William Ruto is presiding over the 46th Kenya Defense Forces (KDF) Recruits Pass-Out Parade at the Defense Forces Recruits Training School (DFRTS) in Eldoret.
During the pass-out, the Cohort 01/25 recruits who completed military training will transition to the Kenya Defense Forces on August 13.
The event features military drills, inspection of the parade, presentation of awards to outstanding recruits, and the administration of the Oath of Allegiance before the graduates formally join the ranks of the country’s armed forces.
“Congratulations, Cohort 01/25, recruits’ pass-out parade on 13 August 2026 at the DFRTS Eldoret,” KDF noted.
KDF Cohort 01/25
The graduates belong to Cohort 01/25, recruited during the nationwide KDF recruitment exercise conducted in October 2025 before reporting to DFRTS in November 2025.
According to the Ministry of Defense, KDF recruits undergo about six months of foundational military training.
However, the 2025/2026 cohort trained for about seven to eight months after the program was extended by two months to help recruits meet the required military standards and achieve operational readiness.
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During the training period, recruits underwent intensive physical conditioning, field exercises, combat training, weapons handling, military drills, discipline programs, and leadership development.
The forty-sixth pass-out follows the May 2024 ceremony, where over 4,000 recruits, including over 1,000 servicewomen, graduated after completing six months of basic military training at the Defense Forces Recruits Training School in Eldoret, which officials described as the largest intake.
NPS Recruits Graduation
The National Police Service (NPS) expects its recruits to graduate in September, following the completion of their training.
During the NPS graduation, the police recruits, enlisted in late 2025, will mark the completion of the final phase of the Basic Recruit Training Course across various police training institutions.
Initially, the cohort comprised approximately 10,000 recruits; however, some trainees were discontinued during the training period due to routine verification processes.
The recruits have undergone more than eight months of training covering policing tactics, firearms handling, criminal law, public order management, community policing, professionalism, investigations, and operational procedures required for service in the police force.
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Deputy Inspector General Eliud Lagat inspected recruits at the National Police Service College’s Magadi Field Campus and urged recruits to maintain discipline and commitment.
“The final stretch is here. Finish with a lot of energy and enthusiasm so that all of us will be proud of you when you pass out next month,” Eliud Lagat encouraged the recruits.
Lagat was accompanied by GSU commandant Johana Langat, among other commanders and directors who observed the demonstrations and assessed the preparedness of the recruits.
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